Doctors' Dissatisfaction With EHRs May Be 'Early Warning Of Deeper Quality Problems'

Electronic health records are a source of frustration to many physicians, according to a study on physician satisfaction sponsored by the American Medical Association.

The findings could serve as an "early warning of deeper quality problems developing in the health care system," the AMA said.

The study, conducted for AMA by the RAND Corporation, found that doctors who perceived themselves or their practices as providing high-quality care reported better professional satisfaction.

Electronic health records (EHRs) were a source of both promise and frustration, the Rand study found.

Although physicians tend to like the concept of EHRs, those surveyed said that current EHR technology interferes with face-to-face discussions with patients; requires physicians to spend too much time performing clerical work; and degrades the accuracy of medical records by encouraging template-generated doctors' notes.